Local law enforcement, private collection agencies crack down on indigent parents

When a pair of new blue jeans costs $12 and sweat pants are $3, it is an easy bet what a single parent chooses when the custodial parent does not pay child support.

"I never knew that was why you always bought me sweat pants," 19-year-old, blue jean clad John Michaels said to his mother as they shared a laugh over times that were arguably rougher for her than him.

Michaels was 2 years old when his parents got divorced.

His biological father did not pay the court-ordered child support.

Between kindergarten and fourth grade, Lucinda Simmons was the sole provider for the family.

Rather than be "angry and bitter," she moved to Arizona and concentrated her emotional energy on raising her son.

At that time, compared to California, the cost of living was affordable and she could get creative and make ends meet.

"I'm a lousy salesman, but one year I sold Discovery Toys because I knew I would be able to keep the toys for John at Christmas," Simmons said.

"I remember that was a good year," Michaels said.

His mom remarried when he was 10 years old and things got easier. There was money to purchase school supplies, and presents for birthdays and Christmas.

"But that is not the norm for most single moms with no support," Simmons said. "I was blessed."

Then, in 2005, her son spent his first year as a student at Coconino Community College working two jobs.

It was a frustrating situation until Michaels' friend told him and his mother about Supportkids, Inc.

Supportkids is a private child support collection agency that finds fathers and negotiates a settlement.

Simmons and Michaels decided together it was worth trying to find his biological father and collect the owed support to pay for his college expenses. The unpaid support now totaled over $109,000 with interest and penalties.

"Until then, it was easier for me to assume (my ex-husband) was dead -- out of sight, out of mind," Simmons said.

When she found out he was still living in the same town she had to move from because she couldn't afford the rents, she had to confront the years of abandonment all at once.

Court was an option but not one Simmons wanted to pursue.

The lump sum settlement Supportkids negotiated was considerably less than the thousands owed, and Supportkids took 34 percent of that amount as their fee.